Device and method for simultaneous square folding of the spine and trimming of booklets

Abstract

A post-processing device (1) for simultaneously performing both square folding and trimming of a booklet (3), wherein the device (1) comprises a square folding assembly (8) and a cutting assembly (5) at least one of which is movably attached to the post-processing device (1), and a clamping assembly (17) for holding the booklet (3) static during operation of the square folding assembly (8) and the cutting assembly (5). Also, a method of operating such a device (1).

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A post-processing device comprising:
 an inlet for receiving a booklet to be post-processed, 
 an outlet for outputting the booklet after post-processing, 
 a cutting assembly for cutting away an outer portion of sheets of the booklet, said cutting assembly comprising a knife and a support, 
 a square folding assembly comprising a press for applying pressure along a spine of the booklet for deforming the spine to a desired square shape, 
 a conveying system configured to move the booklet along a transportation path from the inlet to the outlet via the cutting assembly and the square folding assembly, 
 the conveying system comprises a first feeding assembly provided between the inlet and the cutting assembly, the first feeding assembly comprises a first feeding mechanism configured to control feeding of the booklet relative to the first feeding assembly, the first feeding assembly is movably attached to the post-processing device and guided for movement back and forth along the transportation path between the inlet and the cutting assembly, 
 the conveying system comprises a second feeding assembly provided between the cutting assembly and the square folding assembly, the second feeding assembly comprises a second feeding mechanism configured to control feeding of the booklet relative to the second feeding assembly, and 
 a clamping assembly configured to be operable between a clamping position in which the clamping assembly clamps the spine of the booklet to hold the booklet static in a processing position for processing by the square folding assembly and the cutting assembly, and an open position in which the clamping assembly allows the booklet to move, 
 at least one of the cutting assembly or the square folding assembly being movably attached to the post-processing device such that a distance between the square folding assembly and the cutting assembly is variable by movement of at least one of the cutting assembly or the square folding assembly. 
 
     
     
       2. The post-processing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second feeding assembly is movably attached to the post-processing device and guided for movement back and forth along the transportation path between the cutting assembly and the square folding assembly. 
     
     
       3. The post-processing device according to  claim 2 , wherein the clamping assembly is provided adjacent the square folding assembly. 
     
     
       4. The post-processing device according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first feeding assembly is mounted on a linear guide, and 
 the first feeding mechanism is configured such that a forward feeding direction of the first feeding mechanism is parallel to a direction of the linear guide. 
 
     
     
       5. The post-processing device according to  claim 2 , wherein the post-processing device further comprises a stopper comprising an abutment member movable between a stop position in which it blocks the transportation path at a position adjacent the square folding assembly to thereby define the processing position, and a resting position in which the abutment member is moved out of the way of the square folding assembly such that the square folding assembly is free to operate on the booklet. 
     
     
       6. The post-processing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the clamping assembly is provided adjacent the square folding assembly. 
     
     
       7. The post-processing device according to  claim 6 , wherein the post-processing device further comprises a stopper comprising an abutment member movable between a stop position in which it blocks the transportation path at a position adjacent the square folding assembly to thereby define the processing position, and a resting position in which the abutment member is moved out of the way of the square folding assembly such that the square folding assembly is free to operate on the booklet. 
     
     
       8. The post-processing device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first feeding assembly is mounted on a linear guide, and 
 the first feeding mechanism is configured such that a forward feeding direction of the first feeding mechanism is parallel to a direction of the linear guide. 
 
     
     
       9. The post-processing device according to  claim 8 , wherein the post-processing device further comprises a stopper comprising an abutment member movable between a stop position in which it blocks the transportation path at a position adjacent the square folding assembly to thereby define the processing position, and a resting position in which the abutment member is moved out of the way of the square folding assembly such that the square folding assembly is free to operate on the booklet. 
     
     
       10. The post-processing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the post-processing device further comprises a stopper comprising an abutment member movable between a stop position in which it blocks the transportation path at a position adjacent the square folding assembly to thereby define the processing position, and a resting position in which the abutment member is moved out of the way of the square folding assembly such that the square folding assembly is free to operate on the booklet. 
     
     
       11. The post-processing device according to  claim 10 , wherein the abutment member is parallel to the knife of the cutting assembly. 
     
     
       12. A method of operating the post-processing device according to  claim 1 , comprising steps of:
 b) moving the at least one of the square folding assembly or the cutting assembly to be a predetermined distance apart, 
 c) operating the first feeding assembly to receive, grab and convey a booklet from the inlet to the cutting assembly, 
 d) operating the first feeding mechanism to move the booklet forward relative to the first feeding assembly until the booklet is within reach of the second feeding assembly, 
 e) operating the second feeding assembly to grab and convey the booklet from the cutting assembly to the processing position, 
 f) operating the clamping assembly to clamp the booklet in the processing position, 
 h) operating the square folding assembly and the cutting assembly to square fold and cut the booklet respectively, whilst clamped in the processing position, 
 i) operating the clamping assembly to bring it to its open position, and 
 j) operating the second feeding assembly to convey the booklet towards the outlet. 
 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the method comprises a step a) to be performed any time before step d), said step a) comprising of operating a stopper to bring an abutment member to a stop position, thereby providing a physical stop defining the processing position,
 the method further comprises between steps f) and h) a step 
 g) of operating the stopper to move the abutment member to its resting position. 
 
     
     
       14. The post-processing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the clamping assembly is provided adjacent the square folding assembly. 
     
     
       15. The post-processing device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first feeding assembly is mounted on a linear guide, and 
 the first feeding mechanism is configured such that a forward feeding direction of the first feeding mechanism is parallel to a direction of the linear guide. 
 
     
     
       16. The post-processing device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the clamping assembly is provided adjacent the square folding assembly, 
 the first feeding assembly is mounted on a linear guide, and 
 the first feeding mechanism is configured such that a forward feeding direction of the first feeding mechanism is parallel to a direction of the linear guide. 
 
     
     
       17. The post-processing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the post-processing device further comprises a stopper comprising an abutment member movable between a stop position in which it blocks the transportation path at a position adjacent the square folding assembly to thereby define the processing position, and a resting position in which the abutment member is moved out of the way of the square folding assembly such that the square folding assembly is free to operate on the booklet. 
     
     
       18. A method of operating the post-processing device according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 moving the at least one of the square folding assembly or the cutting assembly to be a predetermined distance apart.